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Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagicComedian and actor Lil Rel Howery joined Hair Love director and Oscar-winner Matthew Cherry for a live taping of Deadline‘s New Hollywood Podcast to discuss diversity in Hollywood and ways to give back. In the process, Howery offered some points of criticism of Tyler Perry.
Although he says he’s proud of Perry for his success and his accomplishments, Howery took issue with the fact that Perry writes all his TV shows himself. Last month, Perry ruffled a few feathers by posting a video clip of the scripts he’d written for his many shows on OWN, BET and other networks.
While some fans commended Perry’s work ethic, others wondered why he doesn’t do what other shows do and use a “writers’ room” of people who offer different and diverse viewpoints.
On the podcast, Howery said, “I’m just being honest and and I told myself I’m going to say something because I don’t agree with that. You can’t write a show called Sistas and you not a sista! So, you don’t want no suggestions or nothing?” The audience applauded his comments.
Lil Rel also said “we gotta do better” when it comes to providing opportunities for other creatives.
“You can’t base nothing off [a] one-writer’s room, brother,” he stated. “That means you didn’t hire a good writer! Find more writers.”
Lil Rel was obviously a hard act to follow, but Matthew Cherry suggested established creatives should offer advice or financial support to up-and-comers.
Lil Rel Howery stars in the upcoming film The Photograph, in theaters on Valentine’s Day.
During a recent LIVE taping of Deadline’s #NewHollywoodPodcast, Lil Rel touched on Tyler Perry’s admission to not employing a writer’s room: https://t.co/ALXYVLYY37 pic.twitter.com/upjLrF4C3f
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) February 11, 2020
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